Essayist · 1803 – 1882

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Founded American Transcendentalism, wrote landmark essays celebrating individualism, nature and self-reliance, and inspired a generation of American writers to create a distinctly national literature.

Major Works

  • Self-Reliance
  • Nature
  • The American Scholar

Impact Analysis

Emerson gave America an intellectual declaration of independence, urging self-trust, originality and a direct relationship with nature that shaped its literature and thought.

Historical influence score: 80/100

Accomplishments for Ralph Waldo Emerson are being compiled.